attract
Pronunciation: /əˈtrakt/
verb
- cause to come to a place or participate in a venture by offering something of interest or advantage: a campaign to attract more visitors to Shetland he hoped this strategy would attract foreign investment by multinationals
- evoke (a specified reaction): I did not want to attract attention his criticism of the government attracted widespread support
- cause (someone) to have a liking for or interest in something: I was attracted to the idea of working for a ballet company
- (be attracted to) have a sexual or romantic interest in: despite all her denials, she was still violently attracted to him
- exert a force on (an object) which is directed towards the source of the force: the negatively charged ions attract particles of dust
Origin:
late Middle English: from Latin attract- 'drawn near', from the verb attrahere, from ad- 'to' + trahere 'draw'